Red Velvet Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

If you’re looking for a show-stopping dessert this holiday season, check out my Red Velvet Layer Cake! Moist and tender two-layer cake packed with that perfect red velvet flavor we all love, then smothered in a luscious cream cheese frosting. Absolute perfection!

So guess what!?

After 26 years of having Thanksgiving at my grandma’s house… I am hosting Thanksgiving! Kinda. Well, technically yes but also no.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

We’re still having Thanksgiving dinner at my grandma’s but not on Thanksgiving, due to a scheduling conflict. So basically, my parents and siblings and I were going to be Thanksgiving dinner-less on the actual day… until I stepped up to the plate and saved the day!

(Not really but… whatever).

So since my family and I are stranded (thanks, Grandma. JK, love you) I’m taking over and making us a mini-meal. I can’t wait!

Of course, now I am frantically planning what I’m going to serve. My top choices are: air-fried turkey breast, a classic stuffing, green bean casserole (obviously) and mashed potatoes. Although my sister would protest if I didn’t make macaroni and cheese. But mainly, my choices of desserts are up in the air. Pie’s a classic, but pumpkin’s out (we’re not a pumpkin household. I know!), but I’m thinking this Red Velvet Cake would make for an excellent dessert.

Normally in years past, I wasn’t a big red velvet person. Maybe because my only experience was with the red velvet cupcakes at the bakery I worked at. I just found them a little… meh. So when I developed this recipe I was kinda skeptical… would this cake flavor be bland too? But I was seriously mistaken with this one!

Each cake layer is supremely moist – almost stick-to-your-ribs moist, with a seriously fluffy and tender crumb that sticks to the fork and adds wonderful texture to the cake. The flavor of red velvet is kind of a cross between vanilla and chocolate – there’s just a hint of cocoa powder in the cake batter which gives it a little oomph without being a total chocolate cake. There’s a great balance of sweetness and acidity in the cake, thanks in part to the cocoa, but also the sour milk (buttermilk) in the batter which balances things perfectly.

Traditionally, red velvet cake has a boiled/cooked frosting instead of cream cheese, yet somehow down the line, cream cheese frosting became standard. For this purpose I’m using cream cheese because it’s easier to make, but you should definitely try the boiled frosting sometime with my recipe here!

Of course, you can decorate this beauty however you’d like… sprinkles, white chocolate curls, or cake crumbs would be beautiful… but I happen to think it’s gorgeous the way it is, with a flavor even more stunning!

*adapted from my recipe

Red Velvet Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Author: Hayley Parker, The Domestic Rebel

Recipe type: Cakes/Cupcakes

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 35 mins

Total time: 55 mins

Serves: 8-10

This Red Velvet Layer Cake is so supremely moist, tender and flavorful – with the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness thanks to a hint of cocoa in every bite! The cream cheese frosting ties everything together!

Ingredients

FOR THE CAKE:

1 & ½ cups vegetable or canola oil

1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (scant 1 cup milk plus 2 Tbsp vinegar)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

One (1-ounce) bottle red food coloring

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon baking powder

2 Tablespoons cocoa powder

1 & ½ cups granulated sugar

2 & ½ cups all-purpose flour

FOR THE FROSTING:

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

One (8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4-5 cups confectioners’ sugar

¼ cup milk or heavy cream, if needed

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease two 9″ round cake pans with cooking spray. Add in a parchment paper round and spray the pans again liberally. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine all of the cake ingredients on low speed for about 30 seconds or until just combined. Scrape down the bowl and continue beating on medium-low speed for an additional 2 minutes or until completely smooth. Pour evenly among the cake pans and smooth out the top.

Bake for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted near the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs. Cool completely.

For the frosting: In a clean bowl of your stand mixer, beat together the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until creamy and smooth, 2 minutes. Gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar, beating well after each addition, until frosting becomes light and fluffy, streaming in the milk/heavy cream if needed if frosting becomes too thick or pasty.

To make the cake: Remove one of the cake layers from the pan and place on a cake stand or plate. Spread ⅓ of the frosting onto one of the cake layers, spreading out to the edges. Top with the remaining cake layer. Spread the frosting onto the cake. Decorate as desired. Store leftovers covered in the fridge.